3 December 2019
Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: Cemeteries
Enquiry
Following information obtained under the Official Information Act, the reporter had the following questions and sought to interview someone who works in Rotorua's cemeteries for a "day in the life of" element for her story:
- Is the council concerned about the deterioration of some headstones and why?
- Who is responsible for maintaining the graves?
- Are there any volunteers or initiatives to help maintain some of the older headstones and what and who are they?
- When was Tarukenga Cemetery purchased?
- How big is the site and how long does council estimate it will take before it is up and running?
Response
From Council Sports, Recreation and Environment Manager, Rob Pitkethley:
Council is responsible for maintaining the grounds of cemeteries within council boundaries. Families, or an authorised person, are responsible for the upkeep of individual graves and headstones. All headstones deteriorate with age and this is a character of cemeteries. When headstones are broken or damaged we try to make contact with the families to see if they can correct the damage and occasionally we have had stonemasons also offer to repair headstones that have been broken.
Occasionally the RSA will organise volunteer groups to clean up and maintain veteran graves.
Tarukenga Cemetery was purchased in 2011 and covers 13 hectares. It is yet to be determined when development will commence at this site.
*Details re the requested first person interview was discussed with the reporter
________________________________________________________________________________________
Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: Lime Scooters
Enquiry
Following on from Auckland's decision on Lime Scooters in the past week, I was wondering if the Rotorua Lakes Council has been approached to introduce them. If so, where is the decision making process at?
Response
From Kurt Williams - Manager, Community & Regulatory Services:
Currently, Rotorua Lakes Council is awaiting information from Lime Scooters for assessment. They have suggested that they are interested in bringing the service to Rotorua, but have not provided their proposal to date. ________________________________________________________________________________________
Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: Damaged CBD lamp post
Enquiry
Reporter called to find out if Council was aware of a damaged and now leaning street lamp post in the inner city and what caused it.
Follow up questions:
The Rotorua Daily Post reported that a member of the public had witnesses a truck reversing into the pole however the reporter followed up with a request for Council to confirm what caused the damage.
Response
The reporter was advised that Council was aware of the leaning pole and contractors were on site. It was unknown at that time what caused the pole to lean.
Follow up response from General Manager, Infrastructure Stavros Michael:
It was reported today that a truck had reversed into a light pole on Eruera Street. Council's contractors attended and have confirmed the damage is consistent with the pole being hit by a vehicle.
